STRAGEGY FOR ENHANCING SHARE OF NUCLEAR ENERGY – Ensuring Safety & viability S.S. Bajaj Chairman, AERB 6 th Nuclear Energy Conclave, New Delhi 14 Oct
2 Requirements for Successful Deployment of Nuclear Energy -Acceptable Safety : Real & Perceived -Competitive unit energy cost (Construction period: Plant life, capacity factor, financing) -Simplification : Design, Operation, Construction -Fuel supplies / fuel resources -Environment friendliness – Minimum waste generation -Amenability to Decommissioning -Security -Infrastructure : Human Resources; Regulatory System; Manufacturing / Service industries
Acceptable Safety : Safety Management Implementation of Technical Safety Requirements in Design, siting, Construction, Operation (Hard / Tangible aspects) Organization, Processes & Systems of Working and Values which are conductive to Safety (Soft / Intangible aspects) o Safety Management in Design o Safety Management in Construction / Manufacture o Safety Management in Operation o Safety Analysis & Assessment : DSA, PSA o Safety Review and Verification (By Plant / HQ / Intl./ Regulator) 36 th Nuclear Energy Conclave, New Delhi 14 Oct 2014
4 Safety Record of Indian NPP Programme Normal Operation : Public Discharges / Estimated Doses Occupation Worker Doses Prevention & Mitigation of Accidents : Fukushima Related Reviews : Enhanced Safety Small fraction of limits
INES levels > Total INES Rating of Significant Events in NPPs during the last five years INES Rating The INES system of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) rates events at seven levels (1 to 7) depending on their safety significance. The accidents at Chernobyl NPP in former USSR (now in Ukraine) in April 1986 and Fukushima NPPs in Japan in March 2011 were rated at level 7 on INES. These accidents involved core meltdown with the consequences of off-site radioactivity release to environment. Out of 33 significant events in 2013, 32 significant events were rated at level 0 on INES while one significant event of contamination of storm water drain at NAPS was rated at level 1 on INES respectively. At NAPS, the tritiated water leaked out from the dyke floor area of downgraded heavy water storage tanks, and found way to a nearby storm drain. The tritium activity was conservatively estimated as 10 Ci, which was much below the authorized daily limit for discharge. The event was reviewed in detail in AERB. After this event, necessary measures were taken by the station to ensure appropriate configuration / condition of the isolation provisions in dyke floor drain. Statistics : Significant Events AERB requires NPPs to submit detailed report for every significant event that takes place. The reporting criteria is provided in the Technical specification for operations. These reports are reviewed and categorized based on International Nuclear & Radiological Event Scale
6 th Nuclear Energy Conclave, New Delhi 14 Oct Regulatory Control & Oversight Prime responsibility for Safety : Operator / Utility Regulator’s Role : To set requirements & see that operator is performing his responsibility Prescribe safety & regulatory requirements – Codes/guides Review proposals for setting up / operation of nuclear facilities against requirements; grant consents (Siting / construction / commissioning / operation) Continual oversight over operating facilities How do we review - Multi-tiered review process - Inspection / Periodic Review Good Safety Record : But must guard against complacency
AEC Meeting - 217, August 2,